5.1 Air Resistance and Falling Objects - Concepts
When an object falls with air resistance, both its acceleration and speed
change during its motion. When an object falls in a vacuum, there is no air
resistance because there is no air in a vacuum.
- A rock and a feather are released from rest from the same height with air resistance
on.
Do they hit at the same time? Yes/No (answer shown in blue).
- A rock and a feather are released from rest from the same height with air resistance
off.
Do they hit at the same time? Yes/No (answer shown in blue).
- A rock and a feather are released from rest from the same height with air resistance
on. Determine the time and the speed that each object hits the ground.
Result:
Object |
Time to impact |
Speed at impact |
Rock |
2.5 seconds |
7 m/sec |
Feather |
25 seconds |
0.6 m/sec |
- Repeat the previous exercise with air resistance off.
Result:
Object |
Time to impact |
Speed at impact |
Rock |
1.6 seconds |
15.7 m/sec |
Feather |
1.6 seconds |
15.7 m/sec |
- A rock falls fastest when there is no air resistance
True/False (answer shown in blue).
- A feather falls fastest when there is no air resistance
True/False (answer shown in blue).
- Without air resistance, a rock and a feather fall at the same speed
True/False (answer shown in blue).
- With air resistance, a rock and a feather fall at the same speed
True/False (answer shown in blue).
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